‘It Has To Be A Good Fight’

Ankalaev doesn’t just have to beat Aleksandar Rakic in Abu Dhabi, he needs to do it in entertaining fashion if he wants a light heavyweight title shot next.

Magomed Ankalaev isn’t allowing himself to be bothered by all the drama surrounding his exclusion from a recent light heavyweight title fight at UFC 307.

In an eyebrow-raising move, the UFC selected No. 8 ranked Khalil Rountree to fight champion Alex Pereira instead of No. 2 ranked Ankalaev. Pereira wasn’t shy to declare the snub was by the UFC on account of Ankalaev’s ‘boring’ fighting style. Magomed will have a chance to push back against that narrative when he faces Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

During the event’s media day, the Russian fighter said there was no rift with UFC management and a good win would secure dibs on the next 205 title fight.

“I was pretty much told that with this win, I’m next in line for the title,” Ankalaev said. “So that’s what I hope is going to happen. But if for some reason I don’t get the title shot and somebody else is put in front of me, then I’m gonna have to get there. And I’m gonna have to crash that person in order to get to the title shot.”

“I was told by Dana that it has to be a good fight. I have to show myself well, and then I’ll get a title shot.

As for Pereira, who implied he might try to curb Ankalaev’s title ambitions due to ‘disrespectful’ comments?

“To be honest, I don’t wanna keep talking about Pereira,” he said. “But people keep asking me questions about Pereira. So if they ask me, then I have to answer. But really, I’m focused on my fight. I’m worried about the opponent in front of me.”

Ankalaev comes into UFC 308 off a knockout win over Johnny Walker, which snapped a dubious duo of fights that saw him draw with Jan Blachowicz in a vacant light heavyweight title fight and then earn a No Contest against Walker in Abu Dhabi. Rakic is looking to bounce back after losing his last two fights to Blachowicz and Prochazka.